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Turks behind Greece fires?

A Turkish deputy from Tansu Ciller's True Path Party (DYP) yesterday revealed that Turkish paramilitary organizations are responsible for arson fires in Greece's islands while, at the same time, an article published in the pro-government Turkish daily "Yeni Safak" provocatively boasted in its title: "We Burned Rhodes."

According to the DYP deputy Sedat Bucak, the perpetrator of these fires was Abdullah Chatli, the leader of the extremist group "Grey Wolves". Chatli was recently killed in a notorious car accident in Turkey which brought to light the relations between Turkish mafia and the government.

These revelations came to confirm reports the Greek authorities already had in their hands, according to which, the fires that have devastated the Greek islands every summer were an act of arson performed by specially-trained forces of Turkish agents.

Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated that the Turkish deputy's statements are "especially worrisome and show that various sabotage raids have been committed in our country with Turkish instigation."

Moreover, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that these disclosures by themselves constitute a criminal act which, in conjuction with Ms. Ciller's statements ("it is an honor for those who shoot for Turkey"), should trouble the international community.

Before proceeding to the necessary actions, the Greek Government awaits the immediate probe and reaction on behalf of the Turkish government, which, according to Mr. Papandreou, bears the essential responsibility.http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/62/052.html

Love all living things whose humble task is not opposed in any way to yours, to ours: men with simple hearts, honest, without vanity and malice, and all the animals, because they are beautiful, without exception and without exception indifferent to whatever "idea" there may be. Love them, and you will see the eternal in the glance of their eyes of jet, amber, or emerald. Savitri Devi

In my opinion, when you imagine foreign/political conspiracies behind national disasters, you are just a worthless prime minister and an inappropriate governor of these lands.
Regarding the fires, we must take under consideration capitalist interest for tourist exploitation, arsonists, reckless locals, pranking kids, and so on. Combined with the negative weather, we have a national disaster.

Here in Greece, we do not need turks to mess things up. We can be up shit creek on our own.

Greek leader suggests political extremists set fires

Fires in southern Greece that have razed dozens of villages and killed at least 44 people may have been deliberately set ahead of next month's national elections, the prime minister suggested Saturday.

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis declared a nationwide state of emergency Saturday night. He also turned to European Union allies, which have promised help.

Emergency crews pulled charred bodies from homes and local media reported death tolls of up to 50 people.

Scores are hospitalized with severe burns and respiratory problems, state-run television reported.

Although the fires were concentrated in the southern Peloponnese region, heavy smoke billowing Saturday afternoon above Mount Hymettus, southeast of Athens, signaled a new fire. It was burning close to Athens International Airport, forcing officials to close a highway.

In a nationally televised address, Karamanlis suggested the blazes might have been set by political extremists, disrupting political campaigning.

"So many fires sparked simultaneously in so many places is no coincidence," Karamanlis said, and vowed to punish those responsible.

Many firefighters told CNN they are suspicious of the fire's source, given several witness reports that the blazes cropped up simultaneously along a 20-kilometer (12-mile) front of lush greenery in southern Greece.

The prime minister described the situation as a "battle that has to be won," and ordered all resources mobilized to fight the fires.

He also announced that a fund has been set up for fire victims and their families, and an assessment of the disaster will be made.

The most devastated area stretches for 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the western towns of the Zaharo, within the highlands of the western Peloponnese, to the southern tip of the peninsula, Mani.

In the past 24 hours, hundreds of firefighters, soldiers, and planes loaded with water have been battling the infernos on a dozen fronts, authorities said. Yet, despite their efforts, officials said the flames had not been tamed.

"Our emergency services are overstretched and it is humanly impossible to battle this force of nature," a top fire official told CNN.

An EU statement said 30 member countries had offered assistance. France on Saturday was slated to send two planes to help quell the fires, and Norway and Germany pledged to send aircraft as well.

A sweltering heat wave in Greece has parched forests and scrubland. With intense winds fanning the flames, authorities call this the country's worst fire season on record.

Since June, more than 3,000 fires have razed thousands of hectares of forests and scrubland across the country -- nearly triple last year's total -- according to officials.

A mother, her child and at least seven other people died fleeing burning woods in the mountainous villages in western Peloponnese, near the town of Zaharo, according to a fire department official.
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Farther south, six people -- including two French tourists found by rescue crews in an embrace -- were killed in a forest fire that swept near their hotel in the town of Areopolis, located 190 kilometers (120 miles) southwest of Athens.

Greece's elections are set for September 16. The ruling party has called for a temporary suspension of political campaigning as a sign of respect to those who died in the flames, and flags on government buildings were flying Saturday at half staff.